What a panel actually costs in 2026
A white-label panel build runs ₹1.5–3.5 lakh. The spread comes from three things: how many tiers you need, whether apps are included, and whether the payment flow is custom. Hosting and domain are yours and cost under ₹5,000 a year.
Price by scope
| What you get | Range | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| MDL build, single brand, core flows | ₹1.5–2L | 7 days |
| Full Admin + MDL + DL tree, i18n | ₹2.5–3L | 7–10 days |
| Full build + Android app + SEO | ₹3.5L+ | 10–14 days |
| Monthly support / changes | ₹15–25k | ongoing |
What drives the price up
- Extra languages — each one is real translation work, not a toggle.
- A native app — store policy, signing, updates, and a release pipeline.
- Custom payment flow — every UPI/PSP integration is its own failure mode.
- Data migration from your old panel — usually the most underestimated item.
The costs nobody quotes you
Domain and hosting (₹3–5k/year), an SSL certificate (free via Let's Encrypt or Cloudflare), a backup destination, and — the big one — the float. You need working capital to fund agents before their players settle. Operators who fail usually fail here, not on software.
How to compare two quotes
Ask both for the same five things in writing: number of tiers, who owns the code, the deposit and withdrawal flow, the delivery date with a staging link, and what happens to your data if you stop paying. The cheapest quote usually loses on items four and five.
Three quotes, compared the way a buyer should
| Quote A (cheap) | Quote B (mid) | Quote C (this build) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build fee | ₹80k | ₹1.7L | ₹1.5–3.5L |
| Code handed over | No | Yes | Yes |
| Staging before balance | No | Yes | Yes |
| Duplicate UTR check | No | Yes | Yes |
| Exit / data export | None | CSV | Full export |
Payment terms that protect both sides
50% on booking, 50% at handover is the standard and it is fair. Anything that asks for 100% before a staging link is a cash-flow play, not a delivery plan.
Put three dates in writing: start, staging, handover. A provider who will not commit to a staging date has not committed to a build.
What you should not pay for
- "SEO setup" as a line item on a new domain — it is a sitemap and a few tags; do it yourself.
- "Lifetime licence" fees. You are buying code, not renting it.
- Per-agent pricing. The software does not cost more because you recruited someone.
Questions people actually ask
Is there a monthly fee?
Not for the build itself. Support, hosting and any custom changes are separate — expect ₹15,000–25,000/month if you want a retainer.
Can I pay in instalments?
Most providers take 50% to start and 50% on handover. Anything less than 50% upfront usually means the build is not scheduled.
Do I own the code?
You should. Insist on it in writing; a provider who will not hand over the code is renting you a business.